led until 7th, stayed prominent until ridden 4 out, soon beaten
mid-division, hit 3rd and blundered 13th, soon beaten
held up, hit 4th, headway to chase leader 11th, stumbled 4 out, soon ridden and beaten
mid-division, ridden and lost place from 4 out
tracked leader until fell 7th
prominent and led 7th, clear 12th, blundered next, ridden approaching last, challenged when drifted left flat, soon headed and no extra
mid-division, going well and every chance approaching last, ridden and squeezed through on inside to lead flat
It will interesting to see how Megaton performs on his first start since returning lame following a race at Stratford in June 2008 and Peter Bowen's gelding has to be respected but a safer option looks to be SNOWY, who is preferred to Teenando. Sue Smith's gelding was narrowly beaten at Carlisle last month and was still there with every chance before unseating his rider on a return visit to the venue last time. He should again be thereabouts but has gone up 4lbs in the weights since that latest outing so may have to settle for minor honours again. Stable companion Bougoure can race off the same mark as when a close second to Even Flo at Ayr last time and he has every chance off what seems a reasonable mark. Cornerback is capable but Nicky Richards has struggled to find winners of late and she may be best watched at present. Justwhateverulike looks to be in the grip of the handicapper at present, while Lucinda Russell's Manadam has been well held of late. Several have chances here but it is hard to get away from Peter Monteith's Snowy, who has shown improved form of late including over course and distance last time and a reproduction of that latest effort may well suffice.
Megaton 7-2fav (10-11) Mid-division, blundered and unseated rider 7th, in a race won by Fieldsofclover (10-4) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Jun, 9 ran.
Manadam (FR) 9-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, lost place 4 out, outpaced from next, 5th of 6, 12l behind Distiller (11-9) at Ayr 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd.
Cornerback (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) Tracked leader, led 8th, made most until ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon driven and weakened, 3rd of 7, 26l behind Isn't That Lucky (11-4) at Carlisle 2m 5f nov stks (3) gd.
Bougoure (IRE) 3-1 (11-2) Not always fluent, tracked leader, challenging when left 4 lengths clear 13th, driven 3 out, soon ridden, headed before last, no extra flat, 2nd of 3, 2 1/2l behind Even Flo (10-13) at Ayr 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd.
Teenando (IRE) 7-2fav (10-3) Tracked leaders, led 9th, ridden and headed approaching last when blundered badly and unseated rider, in a race won by Open de L'Isle (11-5) at Carlisle 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Mar, 11 ran.
Snowy (IRE) 4-1fav (10-3) Mid-division, outpaced halfway, ridden and chased leaders 2 out, kept on to go 2nd close home, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Or de Grugy (11-6) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Mar.
Justwhateverulike (IRE) 8-1 (10-1) Held up, ridden 3 out, no impression until stayed on flat, 3rd of 8, 12l behind Professor Higgins (10-8) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
